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As photographers, we don't always have the confidence to be a print-art warrior or fully market ourselves as Print Artists. Today, print is a necessity, not only to create a valuable experience for your client but also to increase your bottom line! In an ever-evolving digital world, photographers and clients alike forget just how meaningful print art is to our emotions, our families, and our legacies.

In this video, four members of Professional Photographers of America from all walks of life discussed how print touches their lives as photographers as well as their clients'. You'll see them talk about the importance of understanding print art from the base level, the appeal of print to photography clients, how print affects your reputation, and how it boosts your profitability.

Let these four photographers inspire you to value yourself and your craft more, so you can Be More Profitable. If you haven't already joined the PRINT Movement, now's the time. It's free and you'll get resources and a framework to empower you to grow as a Print Artist. Let's remind the world just how awestriking a beautiful print can be. Learn more at PrintMovement.org.

We've all heard that printing is more profitable than handing over digital files. We've all seen photographers with great galleries of printed photos. We all know the benefits our clients receive with tangible products. So, "where do I start?" you might ask. We've found five products that you and your clients will love.

Prints: First, consider basic prints. This option is for the clients that want to spend only a little extra money to hold the image in their hands but are trying to stay budget-conscious. Prints of photographs will make the perfect addition to your clients' homemade photo albums, an addition to their budget-conscious gifts, or self-framing displays.

Print Packages: Perfect for the graduating students! These days, high school seniors are getting some amazing and phenomenal photos. Images of this caliber cannot (rather should not) be contained to one small format. These clients are likely to want digital files, buttons, etc., but your biggest impact will always be through a larger framed piece. Think about offering this pack to your graduate's parents.

Mounted Photos: Mounting prints is a sleek and modern way to display photos. Many clients find that these types of photographic work not only enhance their home with timeless memories, but they also add a stylish element to any wall... and boost everyone's ego, which is always a valued yet not-spoken-about benefit. Consider making this part of your offering when pitching your services to your clients.

Booklets: This is a fun way to put a collection of photos together. Whether it's for the graduate or the family reunion, an array of pictures come together to make the perfect viewing experience. Consider including this in your studio to offer to any type of client!

Matted Albums: They're just like the albums a client would buy from a supercenter and stick their own photos inside. Except 100x better! These will catch the eye of any client that's looking to include a grand array of photos. Think about offering this after a family photo session, or to the client that is looking to include a lifetime of memories in one place.

These are just a few of the many ways that you can start positioning yourself as a print artist today and start making more money. Once your clients see the range of products you offer, they'll be inclined to learn more about your craft, and they'll respect you as a printmaker. At that point, you're likely to see a higher level of print sales, and a higher number of happy clients.

Learn more about bringing print back to the foreground of photography. Join the PRINT Movement today!

Editor's note: This article was originally published in July 2017. It has been updated for authenticity and accuracy.

Lisa Sharer is the Marketing Campaign Manager at Professional Photographers of America. As a Creative Writing graduate, she loves any chance at getting pen to paper. When she's not being creative in the workplace, she can be found skating with the Atlanta Rollergirls or volunteering with the Weloveatl Project. Or really - snuggling with the dogs.

Photography is best enjoyed in Print. You know that, but do your clients? Are you struggling with exactly how to explain the process of print photography to clients? Here are a few ways you can show them why the efforts and services of this art form can't be matched.

Choose the Right Printing Material and Product TreatmentDetermining the type of printing material, as well as the kind of product treatment needed for a client's image, is crucial to the quality of the final product. The quality of the material used will determine the image's lifespan. It's up to you as a professional to encourage them to use a paper that will last a lifetime.

Frame Their Photograph so it Enhances Their ImageAny professional photographer knows framing does not fall under "a walk in the park." Remind clients that you're trained to do this. And remember: You're offering them quality service that they can only experience when they hire an expert like you. The rich conversations between you and your client will help you produce every fine detail they hope for, the perfect encasing for their image, the best frame to fit with their home décor. You have the knowledge to guide your client through the purchasing decision, and you can help give them a great experience by prepping and showcasing the best frames for their image.

Package and Deliver with CareTaking the time out of your day to package your client's photograph is a small gesture that will go a long way. They know you care about the image, but you personally packaging their photograph and delivering it to them yourself will signify, "Wow, they care about me." Speaking of which, whenever you have the choice and resources for shipping versus personal delivery, always go with the latter because quality customer service only enriches the entire customer experience. Going the extra mile acts as the icing on the cake. It further solidifies your relationship, and that mutual feeling of gratitude will last long after the project is complete. Clients will never have this kind of experience - namely a considerate, human touch to their customer service - if they simply stick with digital. Show them why they'll want to partner with you a second, third, twentieth time.

Hang It Up Professionally, and Play Up "The Reveal"People are always eager for the reveal, and you can make it a very special occasion by hand-placing the image for your clients. Because mounting and hanging for visual impact is second nature to you, they can relax while you place the piece in an agreed-upon space. After you secure the image with utmost precision, everyone's favorite moment finally arrives: the long-awaited reveal! Ask your clients to close their eyes. As you guide them into the room, you let them take a breath, and once you finally give the "okay," that first heartwarming gasp happens. When it does, the realization hits them: "This was so worth it." They know one of their most cherished moments has become immortalized for generations to enjoy every single day.

That's what you strive for, and that's what sticks in your client's mind. No matter how you chose to take your clients through the reveal, take advantage of this highly-touching moment to make it even more special, and tie it to your brand and your service.

In the end, it's always the client's experience that will set you apart as a professional print photographer. See the bliss that falls on your clients' faces when they are able to see their story come to life. They will feel the caring and consideration because you took their priceless moment as seriously as they did. Each and every meticulous step of creating beautiful print photography can't help but proclaim a valuable truth: There is no substitute for excellent, customized service from a pro. People don't become repeat clients simply because of the products... they come back because of the experience!

When it comes to professionally printing photography, people tend to focus on the end result and rarely the process. But if you can show them you hold their satisfaction as the highest priority, they will not only cherish your art in a timeless format but will also cherish your efforts, too. To learn more about print photography and to find resources that can help you market and sell your prints, visit Printmovement.org.

It's not an understatement to say that digital photography has fundamentally changed our industry. Not only can we snap hundreds of images without ever having to stop to change a roll of film but we also have what seems like an infinite amount of storage.

But there's just one problem with that: instead of handing a client a physical framed print or a quality album, we hand over a CD or USB flash drive and call it a day.

The general public may not understand-and some photographers for that matter- but most successful and profitable professionals absolutely do! Rather than existing in some digital ether, print photographs give memories a sense of permanence. So if you're looking to create images that are worthy of printing and selling to your clients to cherish forever, then keep these things in mind!

Plan Your Image With the Finished Product In Mind

Once upon a time, it wasn't enough to just snap away and hope to find an image in the mix that was "good enough." Rather, a photographer had to plan his or her vision.

Think about where the photo will hang and what emotions you'll want it to trigger with your work. Think about how your subjects will be framed. Think about lighting and how it will contribute¬ to- or detract from¬- your image. Think about all the things that will work in tandem to make your image one worth printing and putting on display.

Then start creating with that finished product in mind!

DO Sweat the Technique

About craft, about use of equipment, about product choices, about finishing or presentation touches- sweat the technique about everything! It's easy to forget about the latter, but it makes the biggest difference. Know what distinguishes each product and how they contribute to making the experience of having hired you one that's worth their while and then some.

Technology changes, but best techniques never go out of style.

Be Picky About Your Images as Much as About Your Brand

After you've finished capturing your image, it's time to choose the one that will have the honor of being printed. Only then pick the ones that you're sure you'll be happy your client might select and showcase in print!

Why be so picky? Because the images you choose to show your client will be the ones that speak for you and your business. "Image is everything" isn't just a saying; it's a fact. Bottom line: never present images you do not want to reflect as your brand...because any visible image of yours will contribute to building your personal and business' image.

Appearance Drives Everything

Your session is over. You and your client have picked the very best photos. Now it's time to produce the final product, right? Well, no, not yet. Now it's time to take into account how you want this image presented.

It's easy to neglect this part of the process, and too often photographers go for a one-size-fits-all approach to printing. But every image is different and needs to be printed as such.

Remember how we said image is everything? Well, that isn't limited to just the print. It relates to the total experience you provide your clients, too. Every detail, from largest to smallest, will go towards meeting and exceeding expectations and creating an experience that justifies your prices.

Here are some examples of things you might not always think about as areas of opportunity to enhance the experience you provide but that you might want to consider :

•What size print would best suit the image?

•What paper stock is most appropriate?

•What frame will best accentuate the image?

•How will the image be lit?

•If shipped, how will your packaging contribute to a reveal that delights the client?

•If hand-delivered, how will you deliver the product and how will the reveal take place to delight the client?

Show Your Clients That Prints Are Relevant

Technology has made a lot of consumers think that prints are a thing of the past. Sure, they share their photos to sites like Facebook and Instagram, but beyond that, photos are often forgotten. They're left to sit on hard drives and CDs tucked away in some drawer that's never opened.

And when that happens it's like losing the memory itself. Having a physical print creates a tangible connection to one special moment in time. How many of us have been overcome with waves of nostalgia from holding a print? How many of us have felt like we've been pulled back in time just by being able to physically interact with a print? We all have.

Happiness, love, comfort, fellowship, even sadness- prints make us feel. Those feelings are contagious. Show prints and have existing clients talk about how important prints are to them. So much of what you do is about connecting with people and bringing them something special. Do it in PRINT.

As a professional photographer, you understand just how important prints are. It's time you make your clients understand it too. It's easier than you think. Join the PRINT movement and learn more about pricing, selling and the many other benefits of prints so you too can become a Print Artist.

When one of the "fathers of the internet" is worried, you know things might be a little sideways. Google's chief internet evangelist, Vince Cerf, told BBC, "You and I are experiencing things like this. Old formats of documents that we've created or presentations may not be readable by the latest version of the software because backwards compatibility is not always guaranteed." While here he is speaking about documents, the same can be applied to photographs. If technology keeps advancing, what will happen to all those digital files that become less compatible?

How will we look back at history, at photojournalism, at our families? That last one is most relatable for your clients. Digital images are getting stacked away into some cloud every day. A cloud that doesn't have the reliability or really even the history that a fine printed image that's lasted 100s of years has.

But aside from the scary, sinking feeling that our culture is doing a disservice to our memories, think about the other incredible sensations that come along with print art. In this adorable recollection, photographer Andy Ilachinski describes the wonderment his son has after seeing instant film for the first time. He eloquently describes the feeling of holding a print, when "An 'Old' Technology Sparks a 'New' Generation."

It is becoming more evident for some film companies that print is not dead; it's just evolving. As Fuji earns more profits from its instant cameras and film, we can see our younger generations are finding a whole new appreciation for printed images. These same generations will grow up at some point and will be looking for those same prints to decorate their halls and mantles.

What can we learn from all of these experiences? That most people love to reminisce, and that they feel a stronger connection with a tangible image. Clients may be asking for those digital files, but don't forget to offer them the one thing they know they need when they see it: a print.

Join the Print Movement today and see how you can help the print and film industry grow and thrive. You'll also receive monthly updates, valuable resources for your business, and much more!